Researcher Patrick George Zaki was arrested on Friday and ordered to be detained for 15 days pending investigations

An Egyptian researcher has been arrested and ordered to remain in custody for 15 days pending investigations, a security source said, denying reports that the man is an Italian national.

Patrick George Zaki, a postgraduate student at Bologna University in Italy, is a researcher at the Egyptian Initiative for Personal Rights (EIPR) rights organisaton. He was detained at Cairo International Airport on Friday after he arrived for a family visit, the organisation said.

According to his lawyers, Zaki faces charges of "spreading false news", "inciting demonstrations without a permit", "inciting the overthrow of the regime", "managing a social media account aiming to undermine social order...and harm national security" and "promoting terrorist crimes and the use of violence."

Zaki was questioned by prosecutors in his hometown of Mansura in Daqahliya governorate on Saturday, according to his employer.

He will remain in custody for 15 days for further questioning, the source said.